As the term-limited tenure of popular Mayor Bill White ticks toward its end in January, his successor will face daunting challenges on a number of issues.

After scrutinizing the two excellent candidates vying in the mayoral runoff December 12, the Chronicle believes one is clearly better equipped by experience for the job. She is three-term Houston Controller Annise Parker.

With city tax revenues eroded by the continuing recession, the next occupant of the office must be a prudent fiscal manager as well as a leader who can make hard decisions on spending priorities. That will require a detailed knowledge of the city departments that deliver services to citizens in order to wisely prioritize cuts and stretch available revenues to the maximum.

At the same time, the new mayor must also be a visionary focused not just on how things are in Houston but how they should be in the coming decades. Despite a hostile economy, the incoming administration will have to continue improving the quality of life in our increasingly urbanized metropolis. That will entail strengthening public safety, reducing air and water pollution, completing an area-wide mass transit system including light rail, and guiding land development to protect the character of long-established residential neighborhoods.

In the general election the Chronicle endorsed both Parker and former city attorney and public agency lawyerGene Locke, her opponent in the run-off. As we noted then, they each “offer deep roots in the city and a dazzling range of life experiences and public service.” And our endorsement of Parker should not be taken as a diminution of the skills and qualifications of Locke, whose back story as a civil rights activist, steelworker and successful major law firm attorney offers a compelling narrative.

Houstonians are lucky to face such a difficult choice. But Parker's background and experience offer a better fit for the mayor's office at this point in time.

A native of Houston and a Rice University graduate, the 53-year-old has a career-long record of involvement in human rights and civic issues.

Parker was elected to an at-large city council seat in 1997, and in three terms proved to be a hardworking and dedicated public official. She often focused on less glamorous and more technical issues such as a groundbreaking land-use ordinance to protect neighborhoods by regulating residential lot sizes and setbacks.

After being elected controller in 2003, Parker established an effective working relationship with incoming Mayor White, a refreshing change from past long-running feuds between occupants of the city's two top positions. As a result, White agreed to share some of his strong-mayor authority by supporting a charter amendment empowering the controller's office to conduct independent audits of city departments.

Parker credits the audits of operations in police, fire, solid waste and other departments with saving taxpayers millions of dollars by pinpointing inefficiencies and waste. “To have 84 percent voter support of clear audit authority for the controller is a great thing and probably the most significant check on the authority of the mayor,” says Parker.

In her dozen years in municipal office, she has established a record as an effective fiscal conservative. In her campaign she has opposed using taxpayer money to build a downtown soccer stadium and criticized the White administration for using tax revenue bonds to pay long-term employee pension fund obligations.

Parker has also been more specific than Locke in spelling out what she will do if elected mayor. While supporting light rail, she pledges to shake up the current Metro leadership to make the agency more transparent and accountable to residents. She also would replace Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt with a more innovative chief (and one with closer ties to the city), and press for more cooperation between area law enforcement agencies.

“We have to figure out a better way to do policing because that will continue to be the biggest item in the budget,” she explains.

In both her public and personal life, Parker has maintained high ethical standards and decorum in her years as an elected official. No scandals have occurred on her watch. As mayor she will present the city's best face to the world, one of tolerance, diversity and compassion for all our citizens.

The Chronicle urges voters to allow Parker to take her high standards and solid record of accomplishment to the city's highest office.